The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-10-16
CHAPTER III-CONTISUED.

MNuess 1nanKiui was not unmnqrul
Of both these illusions TO her faithless
lover. but only a consciousness Of NORTH
cation and wounded pride was awakened
by them. In fact, during the first tenn
pest Of her Indignation al his arrest, still
later at the arrest Of her father, and
finally at the discovery Of his periidy TO
her, She had forgotten that he was her
lover; she had forgotten her previous ten
derncss toward him; and now that her
fire and Indignation were spent, only n
sense of numbness and vacancy remained.
All that had gone before seemed not some
thing 10 be regretted as her own act. but
rather as the act Of another Thankful
Blossom, who had been lost that night in
the snow Storm she felt She had become
within the last twenty-f0ur hours, not
perhaps another woman, but for the first
time woman.
Yet IL was singular that she felt more
confused when a few moments later, the
conversation turned upon Maj Van
Zandt: ID was still more singular that she
even felt considerably frightened at that
confusion Finally she found herself list
ening with alternate irritabity, shame
and curiosity, to praises Of that gentle
man, of his courage, his devotion and his
personal graces For one wild moment
Thankful felt like throwing herself on
the breast Of Mistress Schuyler, and con-
Tossing her rudencss TO the major but n
conviction that Mistress Schuyler would
share that secret with Col Hamilton,
that Mai Van Zandt might not like
that revelation, and, oddly enough
associated with this, feeling of
uncOnquerable irritabIity toward that
handsome and gentle young officer, kept
her mouth closed "Besdesn She said
To herself ne ought 90 know, if he's
such fine gentleman as they say, just
how / was feeling and that didn't mean
any rudcness TO him." and with this I'M
snswerable feminine logic poor Thankful
10 some extent stilled her own honest
little heart.
But not, l fear entirely. The night
was restless one 20 her; Ike all impul-
sive natures. the season Of reflection, and
perhaps distrust, came 10 her upon acts
that were already committed and when
reason seemed TO light the way only 10
despair She saw the folly Of her intru- /
sion Mt the headquarters, as She thought, /
only when il was too late 10 remedy il: I.
she saw the gracelessness and discOurtesy /
Of her conduct TO Mai Van Zandt, only |
when distance and time rendered AN /
apology weak and Intellectual | think /
she cried a little to herself lying in the
strange, gloomy chamber Of the health
fully sleeping Mistress Schuyler. the
sweet security OF whose manifest good
ness aud kindness she alternately hated
and envied and az last, unable 20 stand
il longer. slipped noiselcssly from her bed,
and stood ycry wretched and discOus0late
before the window that looked out upon
the slope toward the Nhippany river
The moon on the new fallen. frigd and
untroddcn snow shone brightly Far to
the left il glittered on the bayOnet Of
sentry pacing beside the river bank and
gave a sense Of security TO the girl that per
haps strengthened another idea that had
grown up i'm her mind. Since she could
not sleep, why should she not ramDe
about until she COULD She had been
accustomed 10 roam about the farm i'm al
weathers and at all times and seasons
She recalled 10 herself the night-a tenn
pestuOus One-when she had risen in seri-
Gus concern as 20 the lying in Of her favor
tie Attorney heifer and how she had saved
the life of the calf, weakling dropped /
apparently from the clouds in the tempest.
rs it lay beside the barn. With this in |
her mind she dOnned her dress again, and,
with Mistress Schuyler's mantle over her
shoulders noselessly crept down the mar
row staircase, passed the sleeping servant
ON the settee. and, opening the rear door.
in another moment was inhalug The crisp
air and tripping down the crisp snow OF
-he hillside.
But Mistress Thankful had overlooked
one difference between her own farm and
! military encampment She had not ,,
proceeded dozen yards before figure
apparently started ont of the ground be
heath her, and, leveling a bayoneted mus !
Set across her path, called "Ilalt" !
The hot blood mounted TO the girl's :
heck at the first imperative command she ;
lad ever received in her life; nevertheless G
he halted unconsciOusly. and without =
word confronted the challenger with her =
I'D audacity \
"Who comes there" reiterated the ;
entry, still keeping his bayonet level y
With her breast
"1hankful Blossom" she responded ~
=